Overview
Where NSERC stands on contributorship and open research
NSERC financial-administration and reporting guidance is silent on contributorship taxonomies. Authorship is governed entirely by journal policy and host-institution research-integrity rules. NSERC has not issued a CRediT-specific stance.
CRediT status: Silent - No published funder stance on CRediT or contributor taxonomies.
Open access
Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
Peer-reviewed publications resulting from NSERC funding must be freely accessible within 12 months of publication, either through repository deposit or open-access journal publication.
Research data management
Data sharing requirements
Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy (effective 2023).
Submission and reporting
How NSERC researchers apply and report
| Primary submission system | NSERC online application system; CCV (Canadian Common CV) for biographical sketches |
| Biosketch / CV format | Canadian Common CV (CCV) - tri-agency standardised format |
| Reporting cycle | NSERC Annual / Final Report; tri-agency financial reports |
NSERC applicants use the Canadian Common CV (CCV) and apply through NSERC's online system. A Data Management Plan is required under the tri-agency RDM policy from 2023, with phased-in deposit requirements. Discovery Grants - NSERC's flagship programme - emphasise long-term programmes of research over project-specific deliverables. Industrial collaboration programmes (Alliance, CREATE) have their own structured templates layered on top of the CCV.
Contributorship guidance
How NSERC handles contributor attribution
NSERC takes no position on contributor taxonomies. Authorship on resulting publications is governed by journal policy; for collaborative grants, NSERC tracks team composition through CCV and grant-application metadata rather than CRediT-style role attribution.
For authors
Publishing from NSERC funding
When publishing from NSERC funding, ensure the accepted manuscript is freely accessible within 12 months of publication via repository deposit or open-access journal. Acknowledge NSERC using the standard funding-acknowledgement format that names the Discovery Grant or other programme reference. Include a CRediT statement at the publisher's request, even though NSERC does not require one. For data-generating studies, follow your Data Management Plan and deposit data in an appropriate repository. Update your CCV with the publication for the next NSERC application cycle.
For general CRediT submission guidance across publishers, see CRediT for authors.
Notable initiatives
NSERC programmes and infrastructure
- Discovery Grants programme
- CREATE training programme
- Alliance industry-collaboration grants
- Industrial Research Chairs
Notes
Caveats and context
NSERC reporting traditionally weights programmatic continuity over per-output attribution; this is a stylistic difference from CIHR and from biomedical funders generally.
Frequently asked
Common questions about NSERC
- Does NSERC require CRediT?
- NSERC policy text is silent on CRediT and other contributor taxonomies. Authorship is governed by journal policy and host-institution research-integrity rules. NSERC financial-administration and reporting guidance is silent on contributorship taxonomies. Authorship is governed entirely by journal policy and host-institution research-integrity rules. NSERC has not issued a CRediT-specific stance.
- What is NSERC's open access policy?
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. Peer-reviewed publications resulting from NSERC funding must be freely accessible within 12 months of publication, either through repository deposit or open-access journal publication.
- How do I report contributorship to NSERC?
- NSERC takes no position on contributor taxonomies. Authorship on resulting publications is governed by journal policy; for collaborative grants, NSERC tracks team composition through CCV and grant-application metadata rather than CRediT-style role attribution.
- Where do I submit a NSERC application?
- NSERC applications are submitted through NSERC online application system; CCV (Canadian Common CV) for biographical sketches. NSERC applicants use the Canadian Common CV (CCV) and apply through NSERC's online system. A Data Management Plan is required under the tri-agency RDM policy from 2023, with phased-in deposit requirements. Discovery Grants - NSERC's flagship programme - emphasise long-term programmes of research over project-specific deliverables. Industrial collaboration programmes (Alliance, CREATE) have their own structured templates layered on top of the CCV.
- What is NSERC's data sharing requirement?
- Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy (effective 2023). Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.
References
Sources
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
- NSERC Online Services system documentation
